CVE-2024-31487 is a path traversal vulnerability affecting Fortinet FortiSandbox versions 2.4.0 through 4.4.4. The vulnerability arises from improper validation and limitation of pathname inputs, allowing an attacker to craft HTTP requests that access files outside the intended restricted directories. This flaw enables unauthorized information disclosure, potentially exposing sensitive system or user data stored on the FortiSandbox appliance. The vulnerability requires network access to the FortiSandbox HTTP interface and low privileges, but no user interaction is necessary, making it remotely exploitable. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.8 (medium), with vector AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N, indicating network attack vector, high attack complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, high confidentiality impact, low integrity impact, and no availability impact. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the broad range of affected versions, including legacy ones, increases the risk surface. FortiSandbox is widely used in enterprise environments for sandboxing and advanced threat detection, making the confidentiality breach significant. The vulnerability could allow attackers to retrieve sensitive files such as configuration files, logs, or other data that could facilitate further attacks or information gathering.

For European organizations, exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information contained within FortiSandbox devices. This may include internal logs, configuration files, or other data that could reveal network architecture, security policies, or user information. Such information leakage can aid attackers in planning subsequent attacks or gaining footholds in the network. Organizations relying on FortiSandbox for malware analysis and threat detection could see reduced effectiveness if attackers gain insight into sandbox operations or evade detection. Confidentiality breaches could impact compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR, leading to legal and reputational consequences. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, the information disclosed could indirectly facilitate more damaging attacks. The medium severity rating suggests a moderate but non-negligible risk, especially in high-security environments or critical infrastructure sectors prevalent in Europe.

1. Apply official patches or updates from Fortinet as soon as they become available to address CVE-2024-31487. 2. Until patches are released, restrict network access to FortiSandbox management and HTTP interfaces using firewall rules or network segmentation to limit exposure to trusted administrators only. 3. Implement strict access controls and monitor HTTP request logs on FortiSandbox devices for unusual or suspicious path traversal attempts. 4. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) or intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to detect and block crafted HTTP requests attempting path traversal. 5. Regularly audit FortiSandbox configurations and file permissions to minimize sensitive data exposure. 6. Educate security teams about this vulnerability and incorporate checks for similar path traversal patterns in threat hunting activities. 7. Consider isolating FortiSandbox appliances in dedicated network segments with limited connectivity to reduce attack surface. 8. Maintain up-to-date asset inventories to ensure all affected FortiSandbox versions are identified and remediated promptly.